So I read somewhere that yesterday, 11th March, was officially the start of the Spanish flu pandemic in 1918. Other articles I read seem to say in started in January 1918. Either way it had a devastating effect across the world with millions of people dying from it’s quickly spreading nature, Annie Ison was one of those millions.

Annie Ison was born in London, England in 1882 the daughter of James and Alison Ison.

In the 1901 census I found Annie living in the heart of London, 26 Morton Road, Islington, with her extensive family. Her father James was a dustman. What a job that must have been at this time.

Annie Ison 1901 census

In 1906 she married Joseph Teiger in Birmingham, England and the 1911 census shows them living at the well known Teiger address of Gooch Street with their two young sons Sidney and Louis.

Annie Ison 1911 census

Sidney W Teiger 1907-1975

Sadly Annie died in the December of 1918 after contracting the Spanish Flu virus. She was only 36 and left a devastated husband with two young sons to raise.

I am surprised not to have come across more family members dying from this virus considering it’s world wide devastation.